Hope Renewed 希望重燃

[Dexu Xia]

Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Today's Scripture  1 Thessalonians 5:4-15

Today's Insights

Paul urges his readers to “[put] on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (1 Thessalonians 5:8). His use of this imagery might sound familiar. He expands on this idea in Ephesians 6 when he urges believers in Jesus to “put on the full armor of God” (v. 13), including “the belt of truth” (v. 14), “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (v. 15), the “shield of faith” (v. 16), and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17). As we put on God’s armor, we’re better prepared to serve God and to come alongside those who need encouragement

Today's Devotional

Thia was puzzled. Why was his eighteen-year-old son spending so much time in the library these days? His son, who was autistic and rarely spoke to anyone, would usually return straight home after class. What changed? When pressed, his son finally replied: “Studying with Navin.”  Navin, it turned out, was a classmate who'd noticed that Thia’s son was struggling in class and had invited him to study together. This budding friendship—the first in eighteen years—greatly encouraged the disheartened father, who’d given up hope of his son ever having a friend.  Hope was renewed because one person cared enough to come alongside another who needed help.

In Paul’s ministry to the early church, he knew this also applied to our hope of salvation. For believers in Jesus to “be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6), living in the hope of His return, they had to help one another (v. 11), especially those who were struggling.

That’s why, even though these believers led lives of love that pleased God (4:1, 10), Paul reminded them to “encourage the disheartened, help the weak” (5:14). When we notice believers in Christ who are fearful, anxious, or despondent, and we come alongside them—whether to listen, offer a kind word, or sit quietly together—God can use us to give them the strength and courage to hold on to their hope in Jesus..

Reflect & Pray

Who in your community can you come alongside this week? What can you do to show them care and attention?

 Dear God, please help me to care for the disheartened and the weak so that their hope in Jesus may be renewed.

By Jasmine Goh

“勉励灰心的人，扶助软弱的人，也要向众人忍耐。”（帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:14 ）

  今日经文：帖撒罗尼迦前书 5章4-15 节

  今日心得：保罗敦促他的读者“把信和爱当作护心镜遮胸，把得救的盼望当作头盔戴上”（帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:8）。他使用这个比喻可能听起来很熟悉。他在以弗所书第六章中进一步阐述了这一观点，他敦促信耶稣的人“要穿戴神所赐的全副军装”（13节），包括“用真理当作带子束腰”（14节），“用平安的福音当作预备走路的鞋”（15节），“拿信德当作藤牌”（16节），以及“拿着圣灵的宝剑，就是神的道”（17节）。当我们穿上神的军装时，我们就能更好地侍奉神，并与那些需要鼓励的人同在。

  今日灵修      塔感到困惑。为何他十八岁的儿子最近总是泡在图书馆里？他儿子有自闭症，很少与人交谈，通常下课后会直接回家。是什么改变了呢？追问之下，他的儿子终于回答说：“和纳维一起学习。” 原来，纳维是一位同学，他注意到塔的儿子在课堂上学习困难，就邀请他一起学习。十八年来第一次，儿子与他人建立友谊，这极大地鼓舞了这位灰心丧气的父亲，他原已放弃了儿子交朋友的希望。现在希望重燃，因为有人足够关心，愿意陪伴另一个需要帮助的人。

在保罗对早期教会的事工中，他知道彼此勉励扶持，对于持守我们得救的盼望很有用。信靠耶稣的人要“警醒谨守”（帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:6），怀着祂再来的盼望，彼此帮助（帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:11），尤其要帮助那些正在挣扎的人。 因此，尽管这些信徒活出蒙神喜悦的爱心生活（帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:1, 10），保罗仍然提醒他们“要勉励灰心的人，扶助软弱的人”（帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:14）。当我们留意到某些基督的信徒感到恐惧、焦虑或沮丧时，我们要去陪伴他们，无论是倾听、提供良言，还是静静地坐在一起，神会藉着我们，赐给他们力量和勇气，使他们持守在耶稣里的盼望.

 反思与祷告 本周您可以陪伴您社区中的哪些人？您可以做些什么来表达你对他们的关心和关注？

 亲爱的上帝，请帮助我去关怀那些灰心丧气、软弱无助的人，使他们重燃对耶稣的盼望。 作者：Jasmine Goh